Military

DATE=01/19/05

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=KASHMIR VIOLATION - L ONLY

NUMBER=2-321870

BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA

DATELINE=NEW DELHI

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

HEADLINE: India And Pakistan Cool Tensions Over Cross-Border Firing

INTRO: India has accused Pakistan of violating a 14-month ceasefire in the disputed Kashmir region. But as Anjana Pasricha reports from New Delhi, the nuclear-armed rivals are trying to cool tensions over the incident.

TEXT: Indian defense officials accused the Pakistani Army of firing at least 15 mortar shells across the border last Tuesday in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir state - in violation of a 14-month cease-fire.

India says it was the first time weapons of this caliber had been fired since the cease-fire.

Amid the tension, senior military officials from both countries spoke Wednesday morning on a special defense hotline.

The deputy chief of the Indian Army, Lieutenant General Bhupinder Singh Thakur, says New Delhi is reacting prudently to give Pakistan time to investigate.

/// THAKUR ACT ///

"As far as our reaction is concerned we take it as a violation of the ceasefire. And we would like to use restraint, and that is what we have done so far and we have not retaliated. But I am sure the Pakistan government will consider this case in all its seriousness."

/// END ACT ///

But Pakistani military spokesman, Major General Shaukat Sultan Khan, denied any official responsibility for the incident.

/// SULTAN ACT ///

"There is no firing done by Pakistan across the line of control nor anyone else fired from the Pakistan side.. We don't know what could be causes of those explosions or who might have done those explosions. We don't know. They are inside their territory and there is none from Pakistan side."

/// END ACT ///

The Line of Control, which divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan, was reported to be quiet on Wednesday.

It had been one of the world's most volatile borders for decades with regular exchanges of artillery fire between the two armies positioned just meters from each other.

But the border has been calm since the two rivals called the ceasefire in November 2003 following a series of peace overtures. Both countries are now in the midst of a peace dialogue aimed at normalizing their tense relations. The dialogue is making slow progress, and there are few signs that the two sides are any closer to resolving their dispute over the Kashmir region - which is claimed by both countries.

Indian Foreign Minister Natwar Singh is due to visit Pakistan next month to carry the peace process forward. (signed)

NEB/HK/AP/JJ